JP3200537B2 - Developer carrier, method of manufacturing developer carrier, and developing device using the same - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer carrier constituting a developing device such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or an electrostatic recording dielectric for developing and visualizing a latent image formed on a latent image holding member. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the developer carrier and a developing device using the developer carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many methods are known as electrophotography. In general, a photoconductive substance is used to form an electric latent image on a photoreceptor by various means. The latent image is developed with toner (developer) to form a visible image, and if necessary, the toner image is transferred to a transfer material such as paper, and then the toner image is formed on the transfer material by heat, pressure, or the like. This is to obtain a copy after fixing. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in addition to a conventional copying machine, a large number of devices using an electrophotographic method, such as a printer and a facsimile, are known. At this time, especially in a printer or a facsimile, the size of the copying device needs to be reduced, and therefore, a developing device using a one-component toner as a developer is often used. That is, unlike the two-component development system, the one-component development system does not require carrier particles such as glass beads and iron powder, so that the development device itself can be reduced in size and weight. Furthermore, in the case of the two-component developing method,
Since it is necessary to keep the toner concentration in the developer constant, a device for detecting the toner concentration and replenishing a necessary amount of toner is required. In this respect, the developing device becomes large and heavy. In this regard, such a device is not required in the one-component developing system, so that the size and weight can be reduced.

As for the printer device, LED and LBP printers have recently become the mainstream in the market, and the direction of the technology is higher resolution, that is, 240, 300 dpi.
Was 400, 600, and even 800 dpi
It is becoming. Accordingly, the development system is also required to have higher definition. Also, the functions of the copying machines have been advanced and the digitalization has been proceeding. In this direction, the method of forming an electrostatic charge image with a laser is the main method, so it is also proceeding in the direction of high resolution, and here, similarly to the printer, a high resolution and high definition development method is required. I have.

On the other hand, JP-A-1-112253 and JP-A-2-284158 propose toners having a small particle diameter. For example, a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a latent image holding member with a magnetic toner of a one-component developer includes friction between the magnetic toner and friction between the developer carrier and the magnetic toner particles. The electrostatic latent image charge on the latent image holding member and a charge having a polarity opposite to the development reference potential are applied to the magnetic toner particles by friction, and the magnetic toner is applied very thinly on the developer carrying member to hold the latent image. When the developer and the developer carrier are conveyed to a developing area where the developer and the developer carrier are opposed to each other, the magnetic toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image holding body by the action of a magnetic field of a magnet fixedly installed in the developer carrier in the developing area. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a device that flies on a latent image, adheres and develops the same, and visualizes the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

[0005] As a developer carrier (developing sleeve) used in these methods, as shown in JP-A-57-66455, metals such as aluminum, nickel, corrosion-resistant steel (stainless steel) and the like, Generally, an alloy or a compound thereof is formed into a cylindrical shape, and the surface thereof is treated with an electric field, blast, or the like so as to have a predetermined surface roughness. Such a developer carrier is inexpensive and relatively suitable for forming a high-quality image relatively stably. On the other hand, when the toner is charged by friction with the developer carrying member, it is difficult to adjust the toner charge, and although various measures have been taken to improve the toner, the non-uniformity of the charge and the charge Problems relating to durability stability have not been completely solved. Particularly, in the developing step, in the toner layer formed on the surface of the developer carrier by the regulating member, the toner in the toner layer near the surface of the developer carrier has a very high electric charge, and the developer carrier Since the toner is strongly attracted to the surface by the reflection force, and there is no chance of friction between the toner and the developer carrier, a suitable charge is not applied to the toner. Under such a situation, sufficient development and transfer are not performed, resulting in an image having many image density irregularities, scattering of characters, and sleeve ghosts.

As a method for reducing the amount of toner having such an excessively high charge and providing the toner with a charge amount suitable for development, JP-A-1-277265 and JP-A-3-3.
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 6570 and the like, a resin coating layer in which a conductive material such as carbon and graphite is dispersed in a resin is provided on a metal substrate, and at the same time as charging the toner, generation of a high-charge toner It has been proposed to prevent the toner from firmly adhering due to the mirror power and to provide the toner on the developer carrying member with a charge amount suitable for development. However, this alone is not enough.
In the method disclosed in No. 70 or the like, the toner remains unstable due to the uneven surface shape, and a phenomenon such as fusion of the toner to the surface of the developing sleeve occurs, resulting in insufficient uniformity of the image. In addition, there is a problem that the image density is reduced and a ghost is generated.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-quality image in which a developer on a developer carrier has stable and appropriate charges, and is uniform and has no density unevenness. An object of the present invention is to provide a developer carrier. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer carrying member capable of obtaining a high-quality image free from a decrease in density and occurrence of a sleeve ghost under normal temperature and normal humidity, low temperature and low humidity, and high temperature and high humidity. It is in. It is another object of the present invention to provide a developer carrying member capable of maintaining good image quality with less contamination of a sleeve due to durability. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device which is constituted by using the above-mentioned excellent developer carrying member and which can stably obtain a high-quality image.

[0008]

The above objects are achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention is coated on a substrate
A resin coating layer is formed using a working fluid, and the formed resin coating is
Polishing the film layer to form a concave surface on the surface of the resin film layer
Wherein the coating liquid is (A)
A binder resin, (B) a solvent that dissolves and disperses the binder resin,
(C) having a number average particle diameter of 2 to 50 [mu] m, fluorine resin, spherical particles or the resin coated with the spherical particles are formed of a resin selected from the group consisting of silicone resin and polypropylene, and, (D ) Containing conductive material,
The coating liquid is spherical particles based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
2 to 50 parts by weight of a conductive material and 2 to 200 parts by weight of a conductive material
And the solid content of the coating solution is 5 to 50% by weight.
Ri, after using the coating liquid of the resin coating layer formed on the substrate, the spherical particles in the <br/> surface of the resin coating layer by polishing the surface of the resin coating layer leaving by a production how the developer carrier and forming a hemispherical concave surface on the resin-coated layer surface. In addition, the present invention provides a method for coating a substrate
Using a liquid to form a resin coating layer with resin particles,
Dissolve resin particles in the formed resin coating layer with organic solvent
To form a concave surface on the surface of the resin coating layer
Manufacturing method, wherein the coating liquid is (A) a binder resin, (B)
Solvent for dissolving and dispersing the binder resin, (C) organic solvent
Spherical resin particles formed by a soluble resin, and
(D) a conductive material, wherein the coating liquid is a binder resin 100;
2 to 50 parts by weight of spherical resin particles based on parts by weight
Containing 2 to 200 parts by weight of a conductive material,
The form concentration is 5 to 50% by weight.
After forming the resin coating layer on the substrate, the spherical resin particles are dissolved.
The above-mentioned on the surface of the resin coating layer by the dissolvable organic solvent
Dissolve the spherical resin particles to form a hemisphere on the surface of the resin coating layer.
Manufacturing a developer carrier characterized by forming a concave shape
Manufacturing method. Further, the present invention relates to a substrate and a tree on the substrate.
A developer carrier having a resin coating layer, wherein the resin coating layer
(A) a binder resin, and (B) the coating liquid
Solvent for dissolving and dispersing binder resin, (C) 2 to 50 μm
Resin, silicone resin and
Formed of resin selected from the group consisting of
Spherical particles or spherical particles coated with the resin,
And (D) a conductive material, and the coating liquid comprises a binder resin 1
Contains 2 to 50 parts by weight of spherical particles based on 00 parts by weight
Containing 2 to 200 parts by weight of a conductive material,
The form concentration is 5 to 50% by weight.
After forming the resin coating layer on the substrate, the surface of the resin coating layer
Polishing the surface to form the spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer
The hemispherical concave surface formed by detaching the
Having a developer on the surface of the resin coating layer
Body. Further, the present invention relates to a substrate and a resin coating on the substrate.
Te developer carrying member odor having a covering layer, forming the resin film
The coating liquid for the coating is (A) a binder resin, and (B) the binder tree.
Solvent dissolving and dispersing fat, (C) Tree soluble in organic solvent
Spherical resin particles formed of fat, and (D) conductive material
And the coating liquid is based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
Containing 2 to 50 parts by weight of spherical resin particles,
2 to 200 parts by weight, the solid concentration of the coating solution is 5 to
50% by weight, based on the resin coating layer using the coating solution.
After being formed on the body, an organic solvent capable of dissolving the spherical resin particles
Dissolve the spherical resin particles on the surface of the resin coating layer
The hemispherical concave surface formed by unraveling the surface of the resin coating layer
Is a developer carrier. Furthermore,
The present invention relates to a developing method having a resin coating layer formed on a substrate.
A developer layer and a developer layer formed on an outer surface of the developer carrier.
Regulating member and a latent image holding member holding an electrostatic latent image
And depositing a developer on the electrostatic latent image to convert the latent image into a visible image.
In a developing device provided with a developing unit,
The image carrier is the developer carrier according to claim 3 or 4.
A developing device according to claim 1.

[0009]

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and have found that the surface of the developer carrier is
For example, it has been found that when formed with a resin coating layer having a concave surface shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a change due to surface durability is small. That is, by providing such a surface shape to the developer carrying member, as a result, the characteristics of the resin coating layer can be maintained longer than that of the conventional one.
High-quality images can be obtained over a long period of time.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments. The developer carrier of the present invention,
A developer carrier having a substrate and a resin coating layer, wherein the surface of the substrate is coated with a resin coating layer, and the resin coating layer surface is provided with a hemispherical concave surface. In the developer carrying member of the present invention, the surface of the base is covered with a resin. As the substrate used in the present invention, any of conventionally known substrates can be used, and examples thereof include aluminum, nickel, and corrosion-resistant steel.

Examples of the binder resin used as a material for forming the resin coating layer provided on the surface of the substrate as described above include styrene resin, vinyl resin, polyether sulfone resin, polycarbonate resin, and polyphenylene oxide resin. , Polyamide resins, fluorine resins, cellulose resins, thermoplastic resins such as acrylic resins; epoxy resins,
Polyester resin, alkyd resin, phenolic resin,
A thermosetting resin such as a melamine resin, a polyurethane resin, a urea resin, and a polyimide resin; or a photocurable resin can be used. Among them, those having releasability such as silicone resin and fluorine resin, or those having excellent mechanical properties such as polyether sulfone, polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyamide, phenol, polyester, polyurethane and styrene resin are more preferable. preferable.

A conductive substance can be added to the resin coating layer of the developer carrying member of the present invention composed of the above-mentioned materials. Examples of such a material include aluminum and aluminum.
Examples include metal powders such as copper, nickel and silver, metal oxides such as antimony oxide, indium oxide and tin oxide, and carbon materials such as carbon fiber, carbon black and graphite. The addition amount is determined by the properties of the toner. In the case of the insulating toner, the volume resistance is 10 ³ Ωcm.
It is preferable to make the following. Among them, carbon black, especially conductive amorphous carbon, has particularly excellent electric conductivity, and it is possible to obtain a certain degree of conductivity by adding a polymer material to impart conductivity or controlling the amount of addition. Because it can be used, it is preferably used. The particle diameter of the conductive amorphous carbon used in the present invention is preferably about 10 m to 80 m, more preferably about 15 m to 40 m. Further, graphite is suitably used because it has lubricity as well as conductivity, and has a function of reducing toner adhesion to the developing sleeve. The graphite used in the present invention preferably has a particle size in the range of 0.5 μm to 20 μm.

The method for forming the resin film layer is preferably a coating method. The coating solution used for the coating is prepared by using the above components in a suitable solvent such as methanol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, toluene, or the like. , THF, ME
K, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, cyclohexane, N-
It is prepared by dissolving and dispersing in methylpyrrolidone, monochlorobenzene, anone, or a mixed solvent thereof by a suitable method such as a sand mill, a ball mill, and a high-speed dissolver.

[0014] The composition of the coating liquid is as follows.
The spherical particle material described below is used in 2 to 5 parts by weight based on 0 parts by weight.
It is preferable that the conductive material is in a range of 2 to 200 parts by weight, and the solid content of the coating liquid is 5 parts by weight.
And a viscosity of about 10 to 10% by weight.
The range of 00 mPa · s is preferable. The method of applying the coating solution to the substrate is not particularly limited, for example, spraying, dipping, roll coating, bar coating,
Electrostatic coating or the like is preferably used. After application, drying and crosslinking / curing treatments are applied as necessary.

The thickness of the resin film formed as described above is
Usually 0 . It is 1~100μm, preferably 0. 5-
The range is 50 μm. The volume resistance of the resin film is
Is usually ^{1 0 -3 ~10 2 Ω · cm} , preferably 1 0
^-1 it is in the range of ~10 ¹ Ω · cm.

The method for forming a concave surface on the surface of the resin coating layer of the developer carrier of the present invention is carried out, for example, by the following method. First, a resin coating layer in which spherical particles are dispersed is formed on a substrate, and the spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer are subjected to a mechanical treatment such as polishing and / or a chemical treatment such as dissolution. It can be easily obtained by removing it from the layer surface.

As a method of removing spherical particles by polishing, for example, using a device as shown in FIG. 6, the surface of a resin coating layer in which spherical particles having a low surface energy and easily peelable are dispersed by a felt or the like is polished. Then, a method of peeling off the spherical particles is preferably used. In particular, the lower spherical particles the surface energy, polyfluorinated ethylene emissions of 如-out <br/> fluororesin, silicone resin and polypropylene Tona
And a spherical particle coated with a resin selected from the group consisting of: Further, spherical particles coated with silicone oil may be used.

As a method for removing spherical particles by chemical treatment, spherical particles of metals or metal oxides soluble in acids or alkalis, and resin spherical particles soluble in organic solvents are used.
After forming a resin coating layer in which these are dispersed, a concave surface can be easily formed on the surface of the resin coating layer by dissolving and removing spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer with an acid, an alkali or an organic solvent. As metals soluble in acids and alkalis, for example, aluminum oxide, iron oxide, titanium oxide,
Spherical metal oxides such as tin oxide and zinc oxide, iron, copper,
Spherical particles composed of silver, aluminum and their alloys can be used. The spherical particles soluble in an organic solvent can be appropriately selected from known resins as long as they are soluble in a specific organic solvent.For example, spherical resin particles obtained by a suspension polymerization method or the like can be used. Are used. Examples of such spherical resin particles include polyacrylate, acrylic resin particles such as polymethacrylate, polyamide resin particles such as nylon, polyolefin resin particles such as polyethylene and polypropylene, silicone resin particles, phenolic resin particles, Examples include polyurethane resin particles, styrene resin particles, and benzoguanamine particles.
As the various spherical particles as described above used in the present invention, those having a number average particle diameter of the spherical particles of about 2 to 50 μm are preferably used. The surface roughness of the resin coating layer of the developer carrying member of the present invention is 0.45 μm <Ra <3.55 μ, assuming that the JIS center line average roughness is (Ra).
m is preferably used.

Next, a description will be given of a developing apparatus of the present invention in which the above-described developer carrier of the present invention is incorporated.
In FIG. 1, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 1 of a latent image holding member that holds an electrostatic latent image formed by a known process is rotated in the direction of arrow B. On the other hand, the developing sleeve 8 as a developer carrying member includes a metal cylindrical tube (base) 6 and a resin coating layer 7 formed on the surface thereof. In the hopper 3, a stirring blade 10 for stirring the magnetic toner 4 in the hopper 3 is provided. The developing sleeve 8 carries the magnetic toner 4 as a one-component magnetic developer supplied from the hopper 3, and rotates in the direction of arrow A, so that the magnetic toner 4 is applied to the developing section where the developing sleeve 8 and the photosensitive drum 1 are opposed to each other. 4 is conveyed. In the developing sleeve 8, the magnetic toner 4 is magnetically attracted onto the developing sleeve 8,
For holding, the magnet 5 is fixedly arranged. The magnetic toner 4 obtains a triboelectric charge enough to develop an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 by friction with the developing sleeve 8.

In order to regulate the layer thickness of the magnetic toner 4 conveyed to the developing section, as shown in FIG.
It is hung from the hopper 3 so as to face the developing sleeve 8 with a gap width of 00 μm. Magnetic lines of magnetic force from the magnetic pole N1 of the magnet 5 are concentrated on the regulating blade 2, so that a thin layer of the magnetic toner 4 is formed on the developing sleeve 8. In the present invention, a non-magnetic blade can be used as the regulating blade 2. Developing sleeve 8
The thickness of the thin layer of the magnetic toner 4 formed thereon is preferably smaller than the minimum gap between the developing sleeve 8 and the photosensitive drum 1 in the developing section. It is particularly effective to incorporate the developer carrying member of the present invention into such a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image with a thin toner layer, that is, a non-contact type developing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the developer carrying member of the present invention may be provided with a developing device in which the thickness of the toner layer in the developing section is equal to or greater than the minimum gap between the developing sleeve 8 and the photosensitive drum 1. That is, the present invention can be applied to a contact type developing device. In order to avoid the complexity of the description, the following description will be made by taking a more preferable non-contact type developing device as an example.

A power supply 9 applies a developing bias voltage to the developing sleeve 8 to cause the magnetic toner 4 as a one-component magnetic developer carried on the developing sleeve 8 to fly.
When a DC voltage is used as the developing bias voltage, a voltage having a value between the potential of the image portion of the electrostatic latent image (the region where the magnetic toner 4 is adhered and visualized) and the potential of the background portion is used. Preferably, it is applied to the sleeve 8. On the other hand, in order to increase the density of the developed image or to improve the gradation, an alternating bias voltage may be applied to the developing sleeve 8 to form an oscillating electric field in which the direction is alternately reversed in the developing unit. In this case, it is preferable to apply to the developing sleeve 8 an alternating bias voltage on which a DC voltage component having a value between the potential of the image portion and the potential of the background portion is superimposed. Also, in so-called regular development, in which toner is attached to a high potential portion of an electrostatic latent image having a high potential portion and a low potential portion to visualize the toner, a toner charged to a polarity opposite to the polarity of the electrostatic latent image is used. On the other hand, in so-called reversal development in which toner is attached to a low potential portion of an electrostatic latent image to make it visible, toner that is charged to the same polarity as the polarity of the electrostatic latent image is used. The high potential and the low potential are expressed by absolute values. In any case, magnetic toner 4
Is charged to a polarity for developing the electrostatic latent image by friction with the developing sleeve 8.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the developing device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the developing device of the present invention. 2 and 3, the member 11 for regulating the layer thickness of the magnetic toner 4 on the developing sleeve 8 is made of a material having rubber elasticity such as urethane rubber or silicone rubber, or phosphor bronze, stainless steel or the like. It is configured using an elastic plate 11 made of a material having metal elasticity. In the developing device of FIG. 2, the regulating blade 11 made of these elastic plates is pressed against the developing sleeve 8 in a direction opposite to the rotation direction, and is pressed against the developing sleeve 8 in the developing device of FIG. The feature is that it is done. In such a developing device, a thinner toner layer can be formed on the developing sleeve 8 as compared with the device shown in FIG. Other configurations of the developing device of FIGS. 2 and 3 are shown in FIG.
2 and 3, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 in FIGS. 2 and 3 denote the same members. 2 and 3 for forming a toner layer on the developing sleeve 8 as described above, a developing device using a one-component magnetic developer containing a magnetic toner as a main component can be used as a non-magnetic toner. It is also suitable for those using a one-component non-magnetic developer whose main component is.

[0023]

The present invention will be more specifically described below with reference to examples and comparative examples of the present invention. Example 1 In this example and the comparative example, the following one-component magnetic toner was used.・ Styrene-butyl acrylate-maleic acid-n-butyl half ester copolymer 100 parts by weight ・ Magnetite 105 parts by weight ・ Negative charge control agent 8 parts by weight ・ Low molecular weight polypropylene 8 parts by weight The above raw material mixture is mixed with a Henschel mixer. After that, the mixture was kneaded using a twin-screw extruder, then cooled, and roughly ground by a hammer mill. next,
Finely pulverized by a jet mill, then classified by an elbow jet classifier, the volume average particle size is 6.8 μm,
Number% of particles of 4.2 μm or less is 23.5%, 10.5%
As a result, 3.8% by weight of particles having a particle size of μm or more was obtained. The particle size distribution was measured by attaching a 100 μm aperture to a Coulter counter TA-2 (manufactured by Coulter). In addition, colloidal silica was added to the toner at 1.
Externally added using a 1% by weight Henschel mixer to obtain a developer.

Next, a developer carrier (developing sleeve) of this embodiment was prepared. -100 parts by weight of phenolic resin-45 parts by weight of graphite-5 parts by weight of carbon black-100 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol-10 parts by weight of silicone spherical particles (average particle diameter: 10 m) (A) Silicone spherical particles (A) ) were mixed resin coating layer material of the above composition excluding the added zirconia beads as media particles (beads used in sand mill) to obtain a resin-coated liquid was dispersed by a sand mill, then silico
The spherical particles (A) were mixed, zirconia beads were added, and the mixture was dispersed with a sand mill to obtain a resin coating solution stock solution. This stock solution was diluted with isopropyl alcohol to a solid content of 33% by weight to form a resin coating solution, applied to an aluminum sleeve substrate having a diameter of 16 mm by a spray method to a thickness of 10 μm, and then heated at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes in a hot air drying oven. And cured to obtain a developer carrying member having a resin coating layer.

The surface of the obtained developer carrier was polished with a felt of an apparatus shown in FIG. 6 to remove spherical particles from the surface, thereby obtaining a concave surface shape of the resin coating layer according to the present invention. . At this time, the JIS center average roughness (Ra) of the developing sleeve was measured using a surface roughness meter (manufactured by Kosaka Laboratories, SE
-30H) and cut off the measurement condition 0.8m
m, measuring distance 4.0mm, feed rate 0.5mm / sec
Was 1.3 μm.

The method of polishing the surface of the resin coating layer of the developer carrier used at this time will be described in detail. The abrasive used for polishing was 100% wool manufactured by Hayashi Felt Co., and HW felt having a standard density of 0.34 g / cm ² was used. The dimensions of the felt were 40 mm in width, 200 mm in length and 3 mm in thickness.
The band shape was FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a surface polishing apparatus capable of peeling off spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer 7 on the surface of the developing sleeve 8. As shown in FIG. 6, the developing sleeve 8 is in a vertical posture, its upper and lower ends are fixed by a main shaft 13, and is rotated via the main shaft 13 by a driving device (not shown). A belt-like abrasive material felt 14 fixed to a holder 15 is wrapped around the developing sleeve 8 to polish the surface while applying a tensile load to the rotating developing sleeve 8. The tensile load at that time is measured by a load measuring device 16 directly connected to the holder 15. The load measuring device 16 supports the felt 1
4 is provided on a feed table 17 which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 8 together with the developing sleeve 4.

While the both ends of the developing sleeve 8 are fixed by the main shaft 13, the developing sleeve 8 is rotated at a certain speed, but the felt 14 is brought into contact with the surface of the developing sleeve 8 on which the resin coating layer 7 is formed from the beginning. Instead, the felt 14 is positioned at one of the upper and lower ends of the developing sleeve 8.
Next, while pulling the felt 14 with a predetermined constant load by the load measuring device 16 through the holder 15 to which the felt 14 is fixed, the feed base 17 is sent above or below the developing sleeve 8 at a certain constant speed. The surface of the developing sleeve 8 was polished while the felt 14 was brought into contact with the surface of the developing sleeve 8 to apply pressure, thereby removing the spherical particles 13 on the surface of the resin coating layer 7 on the surface of the developing sleeve 8.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view schematically showing the state of the surface of the developing sleeve 8 before polishing, and FIG. 4 is a similar enlarged sectional view after polishing. When the felt 14 of the abrasive moves from the end of the developing sleeve 8 as described above, as shown in FIG. 6, the resin comprising the resin coating layer forming resin and the spherical particles 12 on the developing sleeve base 6. Since the felt 14 comes into pressure contact with the surface of the developing sleeve 8 on which the coating layer 7 is formed, the resin coating layer 7 is crushed by pressure, and the spherical particles 12 on the surface of the resin coating layer 7 are peeled off as shown in FIG. At this time, the polishing of the surface of the resin coating layer can be arbitrarily controlled by controlling the pressure of the felt 14. Also, by setting the width of the felt 14 to an arbitrary length, the polishing of the resin-coated surface can be similarly controlled.

Next, a commercially available laser beam printer, laser jet IVSi (HP) was used using the developer carrier (developing sleeve) of the present embodiment obtained as described above.
Was modified so that it could be examined, and this was used by connecting an output device capable of obtaining a plurality of types of image patterns.
Also, the cartridge contains EP for laser jet IVSi
The developing device was modified so that the developing sleeve of this embodiment could be used by using an -N cartridge. Image is 2
Under normal temperature and normal humidity environment (N / N) of 4 ° C. and 65% RH, and 1
5 ° C., 10% RH under a low humidity environment (L / L), and 32
In a high temperature and high humidity environment (H / H) of 85 ° C and 85% RH, respectively.
Image endurance was performed on 10,000 sheets, and image density and ghost after 70,000 sheets were evaluated. Table 1 shows the results. The evaluation levels were as follows.

Image density (Macbeth reflection density) ： １: 1.4 or more ：: 1.2 or more to less than 1.4 Δ: 1.0 or more to less than 1.2 XX: less than 1.0 Ghost (visual) : Excellent ○: Good △: Practical possible ××: Practical impossible

Example 2 The silicone spherical particles in Example 1 were replaced with resin-coated ferrite spherical particles (10
μm), a developing sleeve of the present example was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, and an image output test was performed.
Was evaluated in the same way as Table 1 also shows the evaluation results. At this time, the surface roughness of the developing sleeve was 1.3 μm in JIS center line average roughness (Ra).

REFERENCE EXAMPLE 1 Copper spherical particles were dispersed in the resin coating layer instead of using silicone spherical particles instead of silicone spherical particles, and instead of peeling off the spherical particles on the resin coating layer surface of the developing sleeve by felt polishing. After masking both ends of the developing sleeve so that the sleeve base is not eroded, the developing sleeve is immersed in concentrated hydrochloric acid for 30 minutes and heated to dissolve the spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer. A developing sleeve of this example was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a developing sleeve having a resin coating layer having a concave shape was formed. or,
Evaluation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1, and the results are shown in Table 1. At this time, the surface roughness of the developing sleeve was 1.3 μm in JIS center line average roughness (Ra).

Reference Example 2 A developing sleeve of this reference example was obtained in the same manner as in Reference Example 1 except that aluminum spherical particles (average particle diameter: 10 μm) were used instead of the copper spherical particles of Reference Example 1. Further, an image forming experiment was similarly performed and evaluated. Table 1 shows the results. At this time, the surface roughness of the developing sleeve was 1.3 μm in JIS center line average roughness (Ra).

Reference Example 3 Except that styrene-acrylic spherical resin particles (average particle diameter: 10 μm) were used instead of copper spherical particles of Reference Example 1 and aluminum was used for the sleeve substrate, and tetrahydrofuran was used instead of concentrated hydrochloric acid. In the same manner as in Reference Example 1, a developing sleeve of this Reference Example was obtained. Further, an image forming experiment was similarly performed and evaluated. Table 1 shows the results. At this time, the surface roughness of the developing sleeve was 1.3 μm in JIS center line average roughness (Ra).

Comparative Example 1 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that the step of adding the silicone spherical particles (A) was omitted in the resin coating solution, and the resulting resin coating layer solution was reduced to 33 wt%. The solution was diluted, applied to a 16 mm diameter aluminum sleeve substrate by a spray method to a thickness of 10 μm, and then cured by heating at 150 ° C. for 30 minutes in a hot air drying furnace to obtain a developing sleeve. An image-drawing test was performed in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the evaluation results. The surface roughness of the developing sleeve at this time was JIS center line average roughness (Ra) of 0.7.
μm.

Comparative Example 2 The surface of an aluminum sleeve base having a diameter of 16 mm was sandblasted using Alundum A # 100 abrasive grains, and the surface roughness was set to a JIS center line average roughness (Ra) of 1.5 μm. After that, the resin coating layer liquid of Comparative Example 1 (33w
Then, a developing sleeve having a surface roughness JIS center line average roughness (Ra) of 1.3 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1. Image formation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1.
The evaluation results are summarized in Table 1.

[0037] As is clear from Table 1, in the case of the example using the developing sleeve of the present invention, unlike the case of the comparative example, the temperature and the humidity were high.
Under any of the conditions of low temperature and low humidity and normal temperature and normal humidity, the obtained image did not have a decrease in image density and no occurrence of sleeve ghost. Further, the image formed by the apparatus using the developer carrying member of the present invention did not have density unevenness.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the developer on the developer carrier has a stable and appropriate electric charge, and the sleeve is less contaminated due to durability. High quality images can be obtained. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image free from density reduction, sleeve ghost, and the like not only at normal temperature and normal humidity but also at low temperature and low humidity, and at high temperature and high humidity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing still another embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of a cross section of a developer carrying member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of a cross section of a surface of a developer carrier when spherical particles are dispersed in a resin coating layer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for polishing the surface of a resin coating layer of a developer carrier of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuki Saiki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-3-15871 (JP, A) JP-A-55 -81138 (JP, A) JP-A-59-187879 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 13/08-13/095 G03G 13/20 G03G 15/08 -15/095 G03G 15/20 F16C 13/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A resin coating layer is formed on a substrate by using a coating solution.
Formed, and the formed resin coating layer is polished to form the resin coating.
A method for producing a developer carrier that forms a concave surface on the surface of the film layer.
The coating liquid is (A) a binder resin, (B) the binder resin
Solvent for dissolving and dispersing (C) 2 to 50 μm
Having Hitoshitsubu diameter, fluororesin, it is formed of a resin that will be selected from the group consisting of silicone resin and polypropylene
Spherical particles or coated spherical particles with said resin are, and,
(D) containing a conductive material, wherein the coating liquid is
0 parts by weight, containing 2 to 50 parts by weight of spherical particles,
2 to 200 parts by weight of a conductive material, and the solid content of the coating solution
A concentration of 5 to 50% by weight, a resin coating layer is formed on a substrate using the coating solution , and then the surface of the resin coating layer is polished to form the spherical coating on the surface of the resin coating layer. A method for producing a developer carrier, wherein particles are detached to form a hemispherical concave surface on the surface of the resin coating layer. 2. A method for coating resin particles on a substrate using a coating liquid.
Forming a resin coating layer, and forming a tree in the formed resin coating layer.
The oil particles are dissolved by an organic solvent to form a depression on the surface of the resin coating layer.
A method for producing a developer carrier for forming a surface, wherein the coating liquid
But (A) a binder resin, and (B) a solution in which the binder resin is dissolved and dispersed.
(C) spherical resin particles formed of a resin soluble in an organic solvent , and (D) a conductive material.
The working liquid is spherical resin particles with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
2 to 50 parts by weight, and 2 to 200 parts by weight of a conductive material.
The coating solution has a solid content concentration of 5 to 50% by weight.
Ri, after using the coating liquid to form a resin coating layer on the substrate, and spherical shape by a resin particle soluble organic solvent to dissolve the spherical resin particles at the surface of the resin coating layer, the method for producing a developing agent bearing member and forming a hemispherical concave surface on the surface of the resin coating layer. 3. A method for forming a resin coating layer on a substrate and a developer carrier having a resin coating layer on the substrate .
The coating liquid dissolves (A) the binder resin and (B) the binder resin.
The solvent to be dispersed, (C) the number average particle diameter of 2 to 50 μm
Fluororesin, spherical particles <br/> child or coated spherical particles the resin is formed of a resin selected from the group consisting of silicone resin and polypropylene, and (D) a conductive material having
And the coating liquid is based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
Containing 2 to 50 parts by weight of spherical particles and 2 to 5 parts of conductive material.
200 parts by weight, and the solid content concentration of the coating solution is 5 to 50.
% By weight, and after forming a resin coating layer on the substrate using the coating liquid, the surface of the resin coating layer is polished to remove the spherical particles on the surface of the resin coating layer. Rukoto to
Formed on the surface of the resin coating layer
A developer carrying member, wherein Rukoto to Yusuke. 4. A coating composition for forming a resin film on a substrate and a developer carrier having a resin coating layer on the substrate.
The working liquid dissolves and dissolves (A) the binder resin and (B) the binder resin.
A solvent to be dispersed, (C) spherical resin particles formed of a resin soluble in an organic solvent , and (D) a conductive material,
The coating liquid is a spherical resin based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
2 to 50 parts by weight of particles, 2 to 200 parts by weight of conductive material
And the solid content of the coating solution is 5 to 50% by weight.
There, after forming a resin coating layer on a body using a coating solution, by dissolving the spherical resin particles in a dissolvable organic solvent spherical resin particles to the surface of the resin coating layer formed
The developer carrying member a concave hemispherical characterized Rukoto that Yusuke surface of the resin coating layer. 5. A developer carrier having a resin coating layer formed on a substrate, a regulating member for forming a developer layer on an outer surface of the developer carrier, and an electrostatic latent image held thereon. A latent image holding member, and a developing device provided with means for attaching a developer onto the electrostatic latent image to develop the latent image into a visible image,
A developing device developing agent carrying member, characterized by the developer carrying member der Rukoto according to claim 3 or 4.